The document discusses Ebola virus, how it spreads, symptoms, and prevention methods. It describes Ebola as a virus that causes hemorrhagic fever and is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and bleeding, and the mortality rate is high. Prevention includes avoiding contact with infected individuals, properly handling and cooking meat from infected animals, and frequent handwashing. The document also outlines European standard EN14126 for classifying protective equipment based on resistance to biological hazards, and describes some protective clothing options from Indutex that meet the highest protection level.

1. Protection from Ebola
What it is, how to prevent contagion and what protection
to choose

2. 2
The Ebola virus: its nature, how it spreads and how dangerous
it is
Ebola is a virus belonging to the Filoviridae family,
which is extremely virulent to humans and causes
hemorrhagic fever. The first strain of this virus was
discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (formerly Zaire).
Four strains of the virus have been located so far,
three of them lethal to humans. Since being
discovered, the Ebola virus has been responsible for
a great number of deaths. The virus was most
probably transmitted to humans from infected
animals. The virus is spread by people coming into
contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected
individuals.
Ebola appears to be a zoonotic virus hosted by
lowland gorilla populations in Central Africa.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is potentially lethal and
encompasses a range of symptoms such as fever,
vomiting, diarrhoea, generalised pain or discomfort
and sometimes internal and external bleeding. The
mortality rate ranges from 50 to 89% depending on
the strain of virus and a vaccine treatment is under
development. The cause of death is usually
hypovolaemic shock or multiple organ dysfunction
syndrome.
It is not entirely clear how the Ebola virus is spread.
It is believed that Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) can
occur after the virus has been transmitted to
someone who has come into contact with the bodily
fluids of an infected animal. Transmission from
person to person seems to occur through direct
contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an
infected person (including the practice of embalming
a infected person after death) or by contact with
contaminated medical equipment, especially needles
and syringes. Even contact with the skin or mucous
membranes appears to be a possible transmission
route.
In those who survive the disease, semen remains
contagious for up to 50 days after clinical recovery.
Transmission resulting from oral and conjunctival
exposure is highly likely and has been confirmed in
some non-human primates.
(Source: Wikipedia)

3. 3
Preventing contagion: efficacy barriers
Different types of Ebola virus are contagious; prevention includes any measures that
help reduce the spread of disease from infected monkeys and pigs to humans.
Preventative measures, therefore, include meticulous examination of these animals
for any transmission of possible infection, as well as the slaughter and proper
disposal of the carcasses in the event of tests for the disease proving positive. There
are also other forms of prevention which involve changes in behaviour on the part of
the various parties involved, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment
(e.g. wearing protective clothing when handling meat), disinfection and a whole
series of techniques aimed at avoiding infection by preventing anyone from coming
into contact with infected blood or secretions, including that from dead animals.
Further measures that have proved to be highly beneficial are cooking meat
properly, disinfection and frequent hand washing when taking care of a sick person.
Putting these measures into practice entails a high degree of wariness and the ability
to diagnose the disease early. Standard precautions must be used for all patients
who are in healthcare facilities such as nursing homes, field hospitals, isolation
wards etc. The recommended measures for those taking care of infected persons
include isolation, sterilisation of equipment and the use of appropriate protective
clothing and masks, gloves, gowns and eye protection. Bodily fluids and tissue
samples from people suffering from the disease should be treated with particular
caution. As already mentioned, hand washing is important, but it can be difficult to
put into practice in areas where there is not even enough drinking water. In the
early stages of the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, even simple infection control
materials such as soap were in short supply. For this reason, in such exceptional
circumstances of soap shortages in an emergency, the WHO has promoted the use of
alternative materials such as clean ash or even sand. The Ebola virus can be
eliminated using heat (heating at 60° C for a period of 30 to 60 minutes or boiling for
about 5 minutes). On surfaces that are suspected to be infected, some lipid solvents
may be used as disinfectants, for example some alcohol-based products, detergents,
sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or calcium hypochlorite (bleaching powder) and other
suitable disinfectants, at appropriate concentrations.
(Source: Wikipedia)

4. 4
Biological Protection: standard EN14126
EN14126 is the standard which brings together all the
tests and procedures for determining resistance to
microbiological pathogens.
It includes a series of tests and an evaluation of each
result, using a scale in which 1 means passing
the test with minimum requirements and 6
(or 3 in some cases) means passing the test with
maximum scores.
For evaluating the properties and requirements of
Personal Protective Equipment against biological
hazards, the following 5 tests have been identified
as representative of the major risk situations that
may arise:
– Blood resistance (ISO 16603)
– Resistance to bloodborne pathogens (ISO 16604)
– Resistance to the bacterial penetration by contact (ISO 22610)
– Resistance to contaminated aerosols (ISO 22611)
– Resistance to contaminated particles (ISO 22612)
Depending on their test performance, materials are classified as follows:
Blood Pathogens Contact Aerosols Dust
Best 20 KPa 20 KPa t >75 min. log > 5 log cfu ≤1
Good 14 KPa 14 KPa 60< t ≤75 min.
Fair 7 KPa 7 KPa 45 < t ≤ 60 min. 3< Log ≤5 1< log cfu ≤2
3.5 KPa 3.5 KPa 30 < t ≤ 45 min.
Poor 1.75 KPa 1.75 KPa 15 < t ≤ 30 min. 1< Log ≤3 2< log cfu ≤3
0 KPa 0 KPa t ≤ 15 min.
As there is considerable variability in performance, Indutex welcomes enquiries for further information about
resistance to biological agents, to ensure that the materials’ performance is adequate for the work to be
undertaken.
As regards exposure to the Ebola virus, Indutex recommends garments ranked “Best” in the table above, i.e.
those that have few or no exposure limitations.
All garments and accessories in the Sprayguard®, Cleanguard®, Jetguard®, Jetguard® PLUS, Jetguard® Xtreme,
Gasguard® T2, Gasguard® T2 Xtreme e Gasguard® T1 ranges fall under this class of protection. Also included are
garments manufactured with Tychem® C and Tychem® F DuPont as raw materials.
“Recommended measures
for those taking care of
infected persons include the
use of appropriate
protective clothing”.

5. 5
Cleanguard® Sterile Kit
A kit consisting of coveralls with mandarin collar, hood with
integral mask and footwear with non-slip soles.
Category 3 type 4-b (protection from aerosols).
Level of biological protection: “Best” (see table).
Jetguard® Apron
Apron with bib, fastened at the rear.
Protective accessory Category 3 type PB[3]-b (partial protection
against jets of liquid).
Level of biological protection: “Best” (see table).
Sprayguard® coveralls
Coveralls with hood, elasticated at the wrists, waist and ankles.
Also available with socks and boot-cover flaps or with integral
footwear.
Category 3 type 4-b (protection from aerosols).
Level of biological protection: “Best” (see table).
Jetguard® coveralls
Coveralls with hood, elasticated at the wrists, waist and ankles.
Also available with socks and boot-cover flaps or with integral
footwear.
Category 3 type 3-b (protection against jets of liquid).
Level of biological protection: “Best” (see table).
Miscellaneous accessories
Miscellaneous accessories such as Protective Gloves, Goggles
and Masks are also available from Indutex to complete the
outfit.
The Indutex S.p.A. range for protection from the
Ebola virus
Indutex has a wide range of clothing and accessories for biological
protection and some examples are listed here.

6. Proud to Protect Everyone
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